Minn. trash hauler rescues discarded jewelry

Todd O'Connor got a call from home base at Troje's Trash Thursday after an Inver Grove Heights woman contacted the company in desperation.

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By Associated Press

Crookston Times - Crookston, MN

By Associated Press

Posted Apr. 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM

By Associated Press

Posted Apr. 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Some valuable jewelry was saved from incineration thanks to an Inver Grove Heights trash hauler.

Todd O'Connor got a call from home base at Troje's Trash Thursday after an Inver Grove Heights woman contacted the company in desperation. She had accidentally discarded a suitcase that contained her sentimental jewelry.

O'Connor drove to the unloading area and used a hockey stick to sort through six tons of trash collected at 300 stops. Luckily the suitcase was bright orange, so it was easier to spot. O'Connor tells KMSP-TV (http://bit.ly/ZzgSiU ) he was surprised it only took 10 to 15 minutes to find the suitcase contained the jewelry.

He says had the woman placed her call a few hours later, the suitcase would have been on a conveyor belt headed for the incinerator.